Neatorama |
- Rail Bike
- The Lost Continent of Atlantis
- Proof You Aren’t Actually Reading All Those Privacy Policies
- Get the Wolf Boy, Get Him
- Dalek Appears At MIT
- Monsters Of Rock By Jason Edmiston
- Paper Craft Mario Brothers Automaton
- Awesome Iron Man Stained Glass Lamp
- Animated Music Video For Pree’s “Te Koop/A Vendre”
- Brilliant Clockwork Android Doctor Who Costume
- Concept Art From Sci Fi Film John Carter
- NC State Student Recruitment Film From The 1980s
- Which Booth Would You Choose?
- The College Graduation Speech You Wish You’d Heard
- They cannot, they must not quote Dr. Seuss. Not in the school. Not in the hall. Not in B.C. No, not at all.
- 13 Yankees Trapped in Elevator at Confederate Monument
- The Avengers Fight on Facebook
- Doctor Who Cake Pops
- Chewing Gum is Bad For Your Brain
- Captain America Wall Clock
- Coming Soon to a Monster Movie Near You: Giant Flying Squirrel
- Why It Sucks Being Left-Handed
- How Many Wives Should a CEO Have?
- Mathematical Sweater
- Brain Injury Turned Man into Math Genius
- It’s a Beermergency! Call the Beerbulance!
- A Dentist Scorned
- Hummingbirds in Flight
- Cheetah and Dog are Roommates
- The Invention of Jaywalking
| Posted: 30 Apr 2012 05:13 AM PDT Twenty minutes ago, I had never heard of rail bikes. This one, apparently, is not the only one. Velospace member Stinky Pete writes, “This is what happnes when a person works nights with too much time to think.” I should start working nights if it produces marvels like this. Link -via Make | More Rail Bikes  |
| The Lost Continent of Atlantis Posted: 30 Apr 2012 05:07 AM PDT  Poseidon The following is an article from Uncle John’s Endlessly Engrossing Bathroom Reader. Atlantis is one of the longest lasting -and most easily disproved- myths in world history. Yet people just keep looking for it. PLATO’S RETREAT According to the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, Atlantis was a continent larger than Asia and Africa combined, sitting on the western edge of the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital city was built in a perfect circle, composed of alternating bands of earth and water. At its center was a temple to the Greek god Poseidon, surrounded by walls of solid gold and coated in silver. The city was equipped with canals, tunnels, racetracks, and a prodigious merchant fleet, all remarkable achievements for more than 12,000 years ago and more than 9,000 years before the golden age of ancient Greece.  Athanasius Kircher's Map of Atlantis, 1669 And then… it vanished. As the Atlantian army attempted to conquer the known world, having already enslaved much of Asia, Africa, and Europe, it was defeated by an early incarnation of Greece. In what the Greeks believed to be an act of divine intervention, the continent of Atlantis was destroyed in 24 hours by violent earthquakes and floods, sending it to the bottom of the sea. There’s just one big problem with this story: It’s just a story. Everything “known” about Atlantis was laid out in two of Plato’s dialogues: Timaeus and Critias. The story may have been based on real events,such as the volcanic eruption on the Greek island of Thera. It may also have been inspired by much older mythological tales such as the Trojan War. Or it may have been purely an invention of Plato’s imagination. We may never know for sure. No evidence of any civilization matching Plato’s description has ever been discovered, but his descriptions are so vivid that for centuries many have believed Atlantis to be real. BANANA FLOAT * The first was the Biblical story of the Great Flood and similar flood tales from around the world. That would explain how Atlantis sank and disappeared: It was the same flood that prompted Noah to build his ark. * The second piece of proof: the banana. Since it’s seedless, Donnelly believed its propagation would require humans to plant the fruit as they migrated from one part of the world to the next. And since the banana is native to Africa, Asia, and South America, there would have to be some sort of land bridge that banana planters would have used. The land bridge: Atlantis, of course.  Map from Ignatius Donelly's Atlantis: the Antediluvian World, 1882. Based on Plato’s writings, Donnelly pinpointed Atlantis’s original location as just outside the Mediterranean Sea. The Azore Islands, west of Spain, would be the exposed portion of the highest peaks of the sunken continent. Donnelly’s addition to the myth: He proposed that Alantians were technologically advanced, inventing the compass and gunpowder thousands of years before the rest of the world invented written language. STEINER’S WAY Rudolf Steiner, a 20th century German philosopher, added more to the theory of Atlantis, suggesting it was the place where the physics of life on Earth were developed. According to Steiner, millions of years ago on Atlantis, solid objects behaved more like liquids, liquids behaved more like gasses, and humans had not yet split into two separate genders. The technologically advanced humanoids on Atlantis, located off the coast of India, drove flying cars, which they powered with “spiritual energy” and the life force found in plant seeds. And where did Steiner discover this? In his book Cosmic Memory, he claimed that he “was not at liberty to disclose” his sources, but his number one source was clearly his own vivid imagination. MUCKING ABOUT In the 1940s, German researcher Otto Muck joined Donnelly’s “theories” with a sprinkling f actual science. Muck theorized that a cataclysmic volcanic explosion, triggered by a hammering of meteors, is what ultmiately destroyed the Atlantian empire. Like Donnelly, Muck hunted down parallel tales of a big flood in many world mythologies. Unlike Donnelly’s, Muck’s description and dating of the event is much more exact. Using a calendar system inspired by the ancient Mayans (who Muck believed were colonists from Atlantis), he claimed to have calculated the destruction of Atlantis down to the hour: about noon on June 6, 8498 B.C. While Donnelly looked to bananas, Muck’s preferred theory involved eels. In his book The Secret of Atlantis, he discusses the European eel, which hatches in an area of the mid-Atlantic Ocean called the Sargasso Sea, and migrates to freshwater streams all over Europe. Muck’s explanation: The eels used to migrate to Atlantis. When it disappeared, they had nowhere else to go, so they started migrating to Europe. SO, WHERE IS IT? Modern geology and oceanography simply do not allow for the existence of a continent the size of Atlantis anywhere in the Atlantic Ocean. Bananas and eels notwithstanding, the thousands of years spent searching for evidence that proves the existence of Atlantis has yielded exactly… nothing. But that hasn’t stopped the true believers. Atlantis hunters like to get creative with Plato’s data, theorizing that he somehow fudged the location, which means that Atlantis could be anywhere. Theories have placed the lost continent near Ireland, near Bolivia, in the South China Sea, and in the Bahamas.  Google Earth image, 2009. Or maybe Atlantis is right in front of us. In February 2009, British newspapers reported that Atlantis was visible on the Google Earth satellite imaging service. A look at the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Morocco indeed yields a strange series of lines and angles. Google says the discrepancy is the result of an error in processing the satellite image. But this happens to be near Spain and the Mediterranean Sea -the exact spot where Plato said Atlantis was. __________
Since 1988, the Bathroom Reader Institute had published a series of popular books containing irresistible bits of trivia and obscure yet fascinating facts. If you like Neatorama, you’ll love the Bathroom Reader Institute’s books – go ahead and check ‘em out!
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| Proof You Aren’t Actually Reading All Those Privacy Policies Posted: 30 Apr 2012 04:12 AM PDT You can click all the boxes you want, but we all know you aren’t really reading all those privacy policies you agree to online. How do I know that? Because scientists have estimated that the average internet user would spend a month every year reading all the policies for all the sites they visit and let’s face it, you aren’t sitting back and reading boring legalese that often.
So how many of these have you even skimmed in the past year? Link Via BoingBoing |
| Posted: 30 Apr 2012 03:08 AM PDT No, this isn’t in slow motion, this dog is just very, very sneaky. No matter how sneaky he is though, a real wolf would notice him before he got that close. Via BoingBoing |
| Posted: 30 Apr 2012 02:58 AM PDT A few years ago, the Doctor and his TARDIS appeared at MIT, so it was only a matter of time before his arch-rivals showed up as well. Hopefully the Doctor can return in time to stop whatever diabolical plot they have been working on. |
| Monsters Of Rock By Jason Edmiston Posted: 30 Apr 2012 01:43 AM PDT Jason Edmiston confirms what I’ve always suspected-some of the biggest legends in rock and roll history are actually monsters in disguise! Watch them shred, claw and roar their way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, one twisted chord at a time. I’m surprised Keith Richards isn’t featured among this motley crew, because there has to be monster blood pumping through his veins for him to have lived this long! –Phone Booth Gallery Link Link –via Creep Machine |
| Paper Craft Mario Brothers Automaton Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:52 AM PDT From the screenshot, it’s easy to get mislead into thinking this video just shows the automaton at work, but even better, it actually shows the device being created so you can even make your own delightful toy. Via Craftzine |
| Awesome Iron Man Stained Glass Lamp Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:45 AM PDT Referring to Tony Stark as “bright” is an understatement, but this stained glass lampshade, made by DeviantARTist mclanesmemories and shaped like Iron Man’s helmet, is certainly a bright idea in home decor! The geometric stained glass look is pretty square, representing Tony’s scientific side, while the vibrant colors reveal the billionaire playboy beneath the armor. This is quite possibly the classiest piece of Iron Man themed art work ever made! Link –via Obvious Winner |
| Animated Music Video For Pree’s “Te Koop/A Vendre” Posted: 29 Apr 2012 11:57 PM PDT This is one cool animated music video for Pree‘s song “Te Koop/A Vendre”, and it’s full of rich paper textures and a nature theme that finds the band playing with the birds in the trees. It’s a visual delight, and the song ain’t bad either! –via Cartoon Brew |
| Brilliant Clockwork Android Doctor Who Costume Posted: 29 Apr 2012 11:51 PM PDT To be fair, it’s the wrong doctor for the “The Girl in the Fireplace” episode, but it’s still an amazing costume set. The picture was posted on Reddit and eventually the creator even came forward with pictures of the costume itself being created. They aren’t detailed enough to serve as a how-to, but they’re good for inspiration if you want to follow in her steps. |
| Concept Art From Sci Fi Film John Carter Posted: 29 Apr 2012 10:58 PM PDT The movie adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ seminal science fiction novel A Princess of Mars may have been a commercial failure, but the visual effects, and the concept art behind the visuals, represent the highest level of industry excellence. Artist Michael Kutsche has kindly shared some of the character and creature designs he created for John Carter with the interwebs, and it should be put together in a book with the rest of the concept art for the movie right away! –another concept art Link |
| NC State Student Recruitment Film From The 1980s Posted: 29 Apr 2012 09:57 PM PDT If you’re looking for a good education, top ranking sports programs and a peer group striving for academic excellence then you should probably look into attending Duke, Wake Forest or the University of North Carolina. But if you want to attend college for the booze, buds and sunbathing then you should check out North Carolina State! I’m not sure whether this short film was made as a joke or a student’s attempt to recruit more party people for their campus, but either way it’s fun to watch and totally 80s! –via Ology |
| Posted: 29 Apr 2012 08:44 PM PDT When faced with the decision of which booth to support, for charity of course, I think I’d have to go with the biting booth. I’ve heard the theories about a dog’s mouth being cleaner than a human’s, but the stench of liver flavored dog treats overrides any fear I have of germs! Link –via Tastefully Offensive |
| The College Graduation Speech You Wish You’d Heard Posted: 29 Apr 2012 08:00 PM PDT
So he decided to tell the honest-to-goodness truth, in this mock speech that he wished he had heard for his own college graduation:
Link | More: 101/2 Things No Commencement Speaker Has Ever Said See also: Graduation Bobblehead from the NeatoShop |
| Posted: 29 Apr 2012 06:00 PM PDT
Gemma Karstens-Smith of Postmedia News wrote the story: Link |
| 13 Yankees Trapped in Elevator at Confederate Monument Posted: 29 Apr 2012 04:41 PM PDT
Link -via Dave Barry | Photo: US National Archives |
| The Avengers Fight on Facebook Posted: 29 Apr 2012 04:00 PM PDT
There's no dissin' like Facebook dissin'! Jon Athmann of Team Pwnicorn assembles The Avengers on Facebook, and Nerd Approved has the funniest pics: Link |
| Posted: 29 Apr 2012 02:59 PM PDT Aurora Cakes in Burghead, UK made cake pops that closely resemble Doctor Who characters. Back row, left to right: Clockwork Man, an Ood, the TARDIS, and a Cyberman. Link -via The Mary Sue | Aurora Cakes |
| Chewing Gum is Bad For Your Brain Posted: 29 Apr 2012 02:00 PM PDT
Link (Photo: Shutterstock) | The study by Michail D. Kozlov, et al. |
| Posted: 29 Apr 2012 01:00 PM PDT Captain America Wall Clock – $27.95 Attention Marvel fans! Are you looking for the perfect way to count down the hours to the release of the new Avengers movie? You need Captain America Wall Clock from the NeatoShop. This great eye-catching clock will make sure you are on time to wait in line. Thor Wall Clock and Hulk Wall Clock also available. Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more great Captain America items and awesome Clocks & Timers. |
| Coming Soon to a Monster Movie Near You: Giant Flying Squirrel Posted: 29 Apr 2012 12:59 PM PDT There are 43 flying squirrel species in the world. The red and white giant flying squirrel (Petaurista alborufus) is the biggest. It’s about 40 centimeters or feet long, I forget which. Burrard-Lucas Photography captured this great shot of one in the Qinling Mountains of China. Link -via TYWKIWDBI | Photographer’s Website |
| Why It Sucks Being Left-Handed Posted: 29 Apr 2012 12:00 PM PDT
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| How Many Wives Should a CEO Have? Posted: 29 Apr 2012 11:00 AM PDT
The optimum number of wives that a company CEO should have (from a shareholder's perspective, not the first wife's) is two:
Link (Image: Shutterstock) - via Freakonomics |
| Posted: 29 Apr 2012 10:59 AM PDT Sondra Eklund, a knitter, mathematician, and YA librarian, designed and crafted this sweater. It shows, in colors, the prime factorization of every number between 2 and 100:
Makes sense to me. |
| Brain Injury Turned Man into Math Genius Posted: 29 Apr 2012 10:02 AM PDT
That's what happened to Jason Padgett, 41, a college dropout who became a math genius after he suffered a brain trauma in a mugging:
Neal Karlinsky and Meredith Frost of ABC New's Medical Unit has the story: Link Previously on Neatorama: 10 Most Fascinating Savants in the World |
| It’s a Beermergency! Call the Beerbulance! Posted: 29 Apr 2012 08:56 AM PDT (Video Link) There are two kinds of beermergencies: bad beer and no beer. In either event, call the Beerbulance for immediate assistance from beer professionals. The Beerbulance is a promotional gimmick for Red Brick Brewing in Atlanta, Georgia. Drivers use it to pick up customers and deliver them to the brewhouse. Official Website -via Nag on the Lake |
| Posted: 29 Apr 2012 08:00 AM PDT
Olszewski was quite upset when he looked at his mouth after going home. He said his new girlfriend, for whom he dumped the dentist, has since left him because she “can't be with a man without teeth.” Mackowiak is under investigation for malpractice. Link -via Arbroath (Image credit: Flickr user dmmalva) |
| Posted: 29 Apr 2012 07:00 AM PDT You know how it is: anytime we see a hummingbird, we stop and watch, but they fly so fast and dart around so much that you really can’t get a good look at an individual bird. But by the magic of high-speed photography, we can see many different species of hummingbirds frozen in time, in a collection of pictures at Ark in Space. Link -via the Presurfer (Image credit: Flickr user Chris Dupe) |
| Posted: 29 Apr 2012 06:30 AM PDT One year ago, Busch Gardens Tampa introduced the public to a cheetah cub and a yellow Lab puppy who are best friends.
Male cheetahs in the wild often hang with other male cheetahs, and zoos sometimes use a dog to fill the role, but this is Busch Gardens’ first cheetah-dog pairing. -via Buzzfeed |
| Posted: 29 Apr 2012 06:01 AM PDT
So what happened that relegated pedestrians to the sidewalks and cross walks? The turning point was a public relations battle over a referendum in Cincinnati. Read what happened at The Atlantic Cities. Link -via Boing Boing (Image credit: Flickr user Jay Wilson) |
The article above is reprinted with permission from 
Author 
Teachers in British Columbia, Canada, were told that they could not, should not quote Dr. Seuss because they're considered political messages:
A 
Gasp! My fourth grade teacher might've been right after all - chewing gum in class may actually be bad for you:
Lefties sure got the short shrift. Mental_floss blog outlines the 7 downsides of being a south paw. For example:
Two, apparently. One is too few, and three is too many.
Genius: we used to think that you're either born with it or not. But today, we learn that there's another route to become a mathematical genius - being bonked in the head.
Anna Mackowiak, a 34-year-old dentist in Wroclaw, Poland, was surprised when 45-year-old Marek Olszewski came to her office complaining of a toothache. See, Olszewski had been her boyfriend until he broke off the relationship just a few days earlier.
Laws against jaywalking are there to protect people from automobiles, but that’s a relatively new concept in the long history of roads. A hundred years ago, pedestrians had the same right to use the streets as cars (or horses, for that matter). When a person on foot was killed by the newfangled automobiles, it was always assumed to be the driver’s fault.| You are subscribed to email updates from Neatorama To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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